Measurements
Both Sexes
- Length
- 8.7–9.4 in
22–24 cm - Wingspan
- 20.9–22.4 in
53–57 cm - Weight
- 2.3–3.5 oz
65–98 g
Other Names
- Engoulevent d'Amerique (French)
- Tapacamino zumbón (Spanish)
Cool Facts
- The male Common Nighthawk has a dramatic booming display used during the breeding season. He flies around at a moderate height, then dives straight toward the ground. Somewhere just about two meters from the ground he turns upward. At the bottom of the dive he flexes his wings downward, and the air rushing through his wingtips makes a deep booming sound. The dives are directed at females, young nighthawks, intruders, and even people.
Habitat
Grassland
Food
Insects
Nesting
Nest Placement
Ground
Behavior
Aerial Forager
Conservation
Least Concern
Populations decreasing dramatically in some areas.
Credits
- Poulin, R. G., S. D. Grindal, and R. M. Brigham. 1996. Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor). In The Birds of North America, No. 213 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, and The American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C.